Group Urges Police Intervention in Owode Onirin Market Crisis …Accuses Landgrabber of Leading Armed Invasion, Injuring Traders

The Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has called on the Nigeria Police to urgently intervene in the ongoing crisis at Owode Onirin Motor Spare Parts Market in Lagos State, following a violent invasion allegedly led by a landgrabber.

In a statement dated Thursday, June 19, 2025, and addressed to the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos, the CHSR President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, alleged that the market was attacked by armed thugs accompanied by policemen, resulting in the demolition of hundreds of shops and injuries to several traders.

“It is no longer news that on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at about 4:30 a.m., a landgrabber led armed thugs and heavily armed policemen to invade the Owode Motor Spare Parts Market. They demolished over 500 shops, with goods worth millions of naira destroyed,” Omotehinse stated.

The CHSR leader noted that the attack prompted traders to stage a peaceful protest and submit a petition to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the State Governor on March 27, 2025.

When there was no meaningful response from the government, Omotehinse said the aggrieved traders returned to court in an ongoing legal dispute: B.I. Olowu vs Shomolu Local Government and Kosofe Local Government (Suit No. ID/1757/1994), currently before a High Court in Ikeja.

“On Monday, June 2, 2025, the court granted an injunction for all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case, with a further hearing set for July 2, 2025,” he added.

However, in violation of the court order, the CHSR claimed that on Thursday, June 19, the same landgrabber mobilised hundreds of thugs and was again accompanied by dozens of armed policemen to further demolish shops and intimidate traders.

“The invading team shot sporadically to disperse traders and facilitate the destruction, injuring several individuals in the process.

“We have both pictorial and video evidences of the invasion and its aftermath,” the statement noted.

Omotehinse urged the AIG Zone 2 and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, CP Moshood Jimoh, to take immediate action and call the involved officers to order.

“There is a court order in effect. The Nigeria Police must not be seen as aiding the violation of judicial pronouncements. Failure to act could lead to a breakdown of law and order, which must be avoided at all costs,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of upholding the rule of law, warning that continued harassment of the traders risks inciting public outrage.

It was alleged by the group that men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) was part of the operation as they were there with their towing truck to tow vehicles from the market, and they demanded immediate and unconventional release of all the traders that were arrested by the team.

“We appeal to the police authorities to treat this matter with urgency and ensure justice is served.

“This is a test of our commitment to the rule of law, and we hope our concerns will receive the prompt attention they deserve,” Omotehinse concluded.